title: Silymarin efficacy against influenza A virus replication.
abstract: The anti-influenza A/PR/8/34 virus activity of silymarin was evaluated in MDCK cells and investigated the effect of silymarin on synthesis of viral mRNAs. Silymarin was investigated for its antiviral activity against influenza A/PR virus using a cytopathic effect (CPE) reduction method. Silymarin exhibited anti-influenza A/PR/8/34 virus activity of 98% with no cytotoxicity at the concentration of 100 μg/ml reducing the formation of a visible CPE. Oseltamivir also did show moderate antiviral activity of about 52% against influenza A/PR/8/34 virus at the concentration of 100 μg/ml. Furthermore, the mechanism of anti-influenza virus action in the inhibition of viral mRNA synthesis was analyzed by Reverse Transcriptase-Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR), and the data indicated an inhibitory effect in late viral RNA synthesis compared with oseltamivir in the presence of 100 μg/ml of silymarin. Therefore, the potential of silymarin for use in treating influenza virus infection merits greater attention.
authors.affiliation: Department of Herbal Resources, Professional Graduate School of Oriental Medicine, Wonkwang University, Iksan 570-749, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: J H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Song
authors.forename: H J
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Choi
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002460:Cell Line; D003588:Cytopathogenic Effect, Viral; D004285:Dogs; D009980:Influenza A virus / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D020944:Silybum marianum / Q000737:chemistry; D053139:Oseltamivir / Q000494:pharmacology; D028321:Plant Preparations / Q000494:pharmacology; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000378:metabolism; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012838:Silymarin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D014779:Virus Replication / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents; D028321:Plant Preparations; D012367:RNA, Viral; D012838:Silymarin; D053139:Oseltamivir